Apparatus for moving invalids.



No. 817,703. PATENTBD APR. 10, 1190s.

L.GARAGHTY.

APPARATUS FOR MOVING INVALIDS. APPLICATION FILED JULYM, 1905.

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No. 817,703. PATENTBD APR. 10, 1906. L. GARAGHTY.

APPARATUS FOR MOVING INVALIDS.

APPLICATION FILED JULY14. 1905.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

i Louise Gam gh ty- UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

APPARATUS FOR MOVING lNVALlDS.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented April 10, 1906.

Application filed July 14, 1905. Serial No. 269,705.

1' 0 all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, LoUisA GARAGHTY, a citizen of the United Statesof America, residing at Chester, in the county of Delaware and State of Pennsylvania, have invented new and useful Improvements in Apparatus for Moving Invalids, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to an apparatus for supporting and moving convalescents and invalids, the object of the inventionbeing to provide a lifting and supporting device by which a patient or invalid may be supported in a sitting posture in or out of bed and lifted in and out of bed in a ready and convenient manner, the construction of the device being such that the patient if strong enough may readily and conveniently control the operation of the device without great exertion.

The device may be used in the home or in hospitals to facilitate the operation of taking care of invalids and convalescents.

The referred embodiment of the invention is i lustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which- Figure 1 is a perspective view showing the device as arranged for use to support a patient in a sitting posture in bed and permit the patient to be swung into and out of the bed. Fig. 2 is a side elevation showing the device .swung rearwardly to support the patient out of bed. Fig. 3 is a cross-section through the chair or seat frame, showing the application of the box attachment thereto; and Fig. 4 is a detail view of the lower end of the standard and its bearing, the latter appearing in section.

Referring now more particularly to the drawings, the numeral 1 represents the head of a bedstead of the ordinary type employed in hospitals, the bedstead generally being constructed of metal, and while the invention is especially intended to be employed in connection with this type of bedstead it is to be understood that I do not limit it in application thereto. Arranged in rear of the head 1 is a supporting post or standard 2, provided at its upper end with a horizontal arm 3 and journaled in bearings 4 and 5, respectively secured to the floor and to the head 1, the bearing 4 being of the nature of a recessed block, into which the lower end of the standard is stepped.

The horizontal arm 3 carries a pair of parallel cross-bars 6 and 7, the respective ends of the cross-bars carrying supporting sheaves orpulleys 8, over which pass four supporting cords, chains, or cables 9, secured at their normally upper ends to a connecting-ring 10, to which is attached a controlling rod,:oord, chain, or cable 11, hanging pendent between the cords or cables 9. T he cords or cables 9 are connected at their normally lower ends to a'chair or seat frame 12, said chair or'seat frame comprising a back 13, a seat-base 14, and suitable connecting-arms 15, the lower ends of the two front cords 9 being connected to the seat 14 at opposite sides of the front portion thereof, while the rear pair of cords 9 are attached at their normally lower ends to the back 13. The seat 14 and back 13 of the chair may be suitably cushioned or upholstered; but the seat 14 is preferably apertured and provided with a removable cushion 16 to afford convenience in the use of the device to render it susceptible for use as an element of a commode.

By the construction of the device as shown and as thus described the patient after seating himself in the chair may pull down on the controlling-cord 11 and raise the chair to elevate his body clear of the body of the bed, thus ermitting the device to be swung outward y to the position shown in Fig. 2 to render easy the operation of leaving the bed or to permit the patient to support himself outside of the bed while the bed is being made. The parts disposed as shown in Fig. 2 will also permit the patient to be supported in a sitting posture outside of the bed, if desired. When the patient is not strong enough to operate the apparatus, this work may be performed by a nurse or attendant. The mode of lifting the patient and transporting him to and from the bed will be readily understood from the drawings and foregoing description.

In Fig. 8 I have shown the application of a boX frame or casing 17 beneath the chair or seat, said casing being provided with hooks 18 to engage keeper-eyes 19 on the seat 14 to detachably connect it to the chair, so that it may be used as a base to support the chair or as a commode-receptacle and may be detached whenever desired.

From the foregoing description, taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, the construction and mode of operation of the invention will be understood without a further extended description.

Having thus described the invention, what is claimed as new is 1. In a device of the character described,

the combination. of a rotatable supportingpost, a head-frame carried by said post, supporting-pulleys carried by said frame, a chair arranged below the head-frame, flexible suspending devices attached at their lower ends to the corner portions of the chair and extending upwardly and inwardly over the pulleys within the space between the chair and head-frame and bounded by said. flexible suspending devices, and a handle connected with the upper ends of said suspending devices and arranged so as to be operated by a person seated in the chair, substantially as described.

2. In a device of the character described, the combination of a rotatable supportingpost, a head-frame carried by said post and comprising a pair of parallel cross-bars, one of said cross-bars being fixed to the post and the other arranged in advance thereof, a

brace-bar extending between and connecting said parallel bars, the latter being provided on opposite sides of the line of the brace with a su porting-pulley, a chair arranged below the head-frame, flexible suspending devices secured. at their lower ends to the corner portions of the chair and extending at their upper ends inwardly and over said. pulleys, and a handle attached to the said upper ends of the suspending devices and depending therefrom in the space between the chair and head frame and bounded by the suspending devices.

In testimony whereof I ailiX my signature in presence of two witnesses.

LOUISA GARAGHTY.

Witnesses:

WALTER C. GARAGHTY, MARY GARAGHTY. 

